Field Dressing Your Animal

* Use a very sharp knife. A sharp knife cuts easier, quicker and with less pressure.

* Always cut away from you — never draw a knife blade towards you. Make sure you can see the cut.

Be Aware of Your Physical Condition

* Know your physical limitations and don’t exceed them.

* Be prepared for weather changes by dressing in layers. Dressing in layers allows you to regulate your body temperature by adding or removing clothes as needed.

* Drink plenty of water. You can become dehydrated, even in cold weather.

* Hypothermia (the loss of body temperature) can occur in temperatures as warm as 50 degrees. Be aware of hypothermia signs. The first is stumbling or disorientation. When you cannot pull your thumb into your index finger is another. When you notice any of these signs, or you are shivering, sit down immediately and build a fire to get yourself warm and dry.

* Frostbite. If hunting in cold weather, be aware of frostbite development. White spots on your skin are the first sign. Check your face, nose, ears, feet and hands regularly.

If You Become Lost

* The best wilderness survival tip is to not panic. Sit down and build a fire, even if it isn’t cold. A fire is soothing and will help you to relax, focus your mind and help you think clearly. After calming down, try to get your bearings and think your way out of the situation. Do not panic.

* If you think you know the direction you need to travel, use the pad of paper and pencil from your survival kit and leave a note at your location, indicating who you are and the direction you’re traveling. If you come across others as you’re trying to find your way out, don’t be embarrassed to stop them and ask for directions and help.

* If you’re unsure about the direction you should travel, stay at your camp and build a shelter before sundown, if possible. Build a smoky fire (which can be spotted from the air) or preferably build three small fires in a triangle (a air recognized distress signal and if you sit in the middle you will be warmer than you will be from one large fire). “You can live without food and water for several days, so do not panic.

Alcohol in Wilderness Survival Situations

* Do not give alcohol to someone who’s cold. Rather than warming the person, alcohol will actually make them loose more body heat.

* It’s never a good idea to mix alcohol and hunting in the first place. Drinking it in a wilderness survival situation shouldn’t even be an option. If you’re looking for a portable disinfectant, use pre-packaged alcohol wipes for cleaning wounds.

This is not a full and comprehensive list for wilderness survival preparation. Use your experience and employ a little common sense to expand on these thoughts.

Your Turn: What Survival Items Do You Bring on a Hunt?

What items do you keep with you during a hunt in case wilderness survival becomes a reality? Leave a comment below.

Get More Wilderness Survival Tips

For more wilderness survival tips, be sure to check out Stay Alive! Survival Skills You Need. Author John D. McCann shares how to achieve a “survivor mentality” in any situation or location, including the outdoors.